Screw cap for bottles and jars



Sepia 1934- J. J. WlLLiAMS ET AL SCREW CAP FOR BOTTLES AND JARS Filed July 18 Um; J Mia-am UNITED STA Patented Sept. 25, 1934 SCREW CAP FOR BOTTLES AND JARS TES PATENT OFFICE The invention relates to metal screw caps of the double-shell type in which the threaded shell is secured within a smooth shell to simulate a molded cap; and one of the objects of the present 5 invention is to provide such a cap in which the the two shells that there can be no relative movement between them. The present invention overcomes this difiiculty and makes it possible to so reinforce the weak non-corrosive inner shell that the two shells can be firmly united without any collapsing of the inner shell, thus producing a screw cap, simulating a molded cap, and in which the inner shell is made of non-corrosive material, such as aluminum. Wherever the term aluminum appears in the specification and claims, it will be understood that it is used not in a limiting sense, but merely as illustrative of one of the several non-corrosive metals which could be employed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description when'taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the cap.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cap.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the cap with parts broken away to more clearly show the combination of the reinforcing band employed in the cap of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail plan view, partly in outline, of the reinforcing band employed in the cap of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a. plan view, with parts broken away, of the cap slightly modified by the use of a different form of reinforcing band; and

Figure 6 is a detail plan view, partly in outline, of the reinforcing band employed in the cap of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawing in more detail, numeral 1 indicates the outer shell, which is made of tin-plate or other strong metal, and numeral 2 indicates the inner shell which is made of a relatively weak non-corrosive metal, such as aluminum. I

The outer shell 1 comprises a top or crown portion 3 and a plain skirt 4 of a depth slightly greater than the depth of the completed cap. The inner shell 2, which is formed of non-corrosive metal, is provided with a crown 5 and a skirt having threads 6 formed therein. In the specific form illustrated the skirt is flared below the threads, as indicated by numeral 7. The flared portion of the skirt terminates in a bead 8, which serves as a reinforcement for the skirt and also as an anchoring means between the inner and outer shells. The shells are permanently united by turning the lower portion of the skirt of the outer shell inwardly and clamping it about the bead 8, as indicated by numeral 9. The purpose of flaring the lower portion of the inner skirt outwardly is to permit the lower portion of the outer skirt to be turned inward and upward sufficiently to obtain a clamping action, without the inturned clamping portion interfering with the proper functioning of the threads. This is the preferred form, but the present invention is not limited to this specific form, as the present invention is equally well adapted to double shell 5 caps in which the lower portion of the skirt of the inner shell is not flared outwardly, and hence in which the lower portion of the outer skirt is not turned inwardly and upwardly to the extent indicated by Figure 2. so

As stated hereinbefore, .in the manufacture of a cap of this character, where the inner shell is made of a weak non-corrosive metal, such as aluminum, the side walls and bead of the inner shell tend to collapse when the outer shell is com- 5 bined with it, and hence it is difilcult to so unite the two shells that there can be no relative movement between them. In accordance with the present invention, a band 10 of relatively strong material, such as tin-plate, is placed inside the outer shell and extends from the inside of the crown of the outer shell downwardly to the bead .on the inner shell. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, this band is corrugated vertically for strengthening purposes; and it is preferably made by bending a strip of metal to circularform. The slight space between the ends of the band, indicated by numeral 11, permits any slight irregularities in the size of the outer shell to be taken care of. It will be understood, of course, that instead of forming the band by turning a strip of metal into circular form, the bands may be produced, if preferred, by merely cutting off sections of metal tubing of the proper diameter.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is illustrated a slightly modified form, in which the reinforcing band 12 is made of a plain strip of metal in lieu of the vertically corrugated band shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. This band, like the corrugated band, can be formed of a strip of metal turned to circular no form, as shown in Figure 6, or it can be formed from an appropriate cylinder or tube. Of course, the invention is not limited to the particular forms of bands illustrated. V

When the caps are being formed the band, of any preferred form, is arranged in the space between the'inner and outer shells when they are nested together, and is of a length to contact with the under surface of the crown or the outer shell and the bead'of the inner shell. With the band so disposed it forms a support for the bead and serves to prevent its collapse or the collapse of the skirt of the inner shell, when the two shells are permanently united by clamping the lower portion of the skirt of the outer shell about the bead. There is thus provided a metal screw cap whose interior is formed of a weak non-corrosive metal and whose exterior simulates a molded cap; the two parts being firmly united to prevent relative movement. 5

*Having fully described the invention, what we claim as new is:

1. A double-shell cap comprising a threaded inner shell of weak metal, a plain outer shell of strong rigid metal, and a reinforcing member between the two shells, the upper edge of said member abutting against the crown of the outer shell and the lower edge of said member abutting against the lower portion of the inner shell to prevent the collapsing of the inner shell.

2. A double shell cap comprising a threaded inner shell of non-corrosive metal, a plain outer shell of tin-plate, and a reinforcing band of metal between the two shells, said band extending from the crown of the outer shell downwardly to and abutting against the bottom of the skirt of the inner shell to prevent the collapsing ,of the inner shell.

3. A double shell cap comprising a threaded inner shell of non-corrosive metal, a plain outer shell of tin-plate, a bead formed at the lower edge of the inner shell, and a reinforcing band of metal between the two shells, said band extending from the crown of the outer shell downwardly to and abutting against the bead on the inner shell to prevent the collapsing of the inner shell.

4. A double shell cap comprising a threaded inner shell of weak metal, a plain outer shell of strong metal, a bead formed at the lower edge of the inner shell, and a reinforcing band of strong metal extending from the crown of the outer shell downwardly to and abutting against the head of the inner shell to prevent the collapsing of the inner shell.

5. A double shell cap comprising a threaded inner shell of weak metal, a plain outer shell of strong. metal, a bead formed at the lower edge of the inner shell, and a reinforcing band of strong metal extending from the crown of the outer shell downwardly to and abutting against the bead on the inner shell to prevent the collapsing of the innershell, said band provided with vertical corrugations.

6. A double shell cap comprising a threaded inher shell of aluminum, an outer shell of tin-plate, the lower portion of the inner shell being flared outwardly, a bead formed at the edge of the outwardly flared portions, a vertically corrugated band arranged between the two shells, said band extending from the crown of the outer shell down to and abutting against the bead on the inner shell to prevent the collapsing of the inner shell, and the lower portion of the outer shell turned inwardly and upwardly and clamped about said bead.

JOHN J. WILLIAMS. TYRUS HUNKER. 

